How's your day been?

[Herb G.]

Well, yesterday was the 1st decent day we've had here since May.
It was a one day wonder though.
The temps weren't too high, and the humidity was way below what it's been being.
There was even a breeze.
I managed to cut my grass for the 1st time in over 2 months, probably 3.
It took me over 3 hours to get it done & it usually only takes about 45 mins.

 

[woodtickgreg]

Temps are supposed to be in the mid to upper 70's for the holliday weekend so I got a start today after work on the next house project. Phase 2 of the concrete work, I hope I learned enough from the first job, lol.
This is going to be a 10' x 20' slab for a patio. It will also help divert water away from the house. I have wanted a patio back here since I purchased the house. Its in the shade in the afternoon, it'll be a nice place for betty and I to relax.

Next ill get the forms set for the grade and then shovel out all the dirt and grass, I have a big hole in the corner of my yard that I'm going to fill in with this dirt.

I have some other projects I want to work on this weekend also so I probably won't get it all excavated but I'll get a good start on it.

 

[Herb G.]

Just a glutton for punishment, ain't ya Greg?

 

[Gdurfey]

so, this is NOT political; not going to ruin friendships and make this place feel like Facebook. That is one of the most important reasons (and to drool over gorgeous wood and incredibly made products) I am on here; to avoid that junk.

However, I do feel the need to comment on this aspect of life. I feel good; actually amazed. As many, if not all of us, saw any investment we had crash earlier this year, how can the market be where it is when I watch the news at night? Granted, I watch the news primarily for a wrong weather forecast, but I do listen to what is going on, whether I feel it is biased or not, until the weather comes on. I freely admit that as a somewhat educated man I have NO idea how our economy really works and looking at the markets at this moment in history reaffirms I don't have a clue. Millions still out of work or impacted, some cities still in turmoil (and worse), etc, yet major portions of our economy are stronger than ever.

When I think of the diversity on this Forum, I pray for all of you; for health, safety, security, from weather...…..and I pray for our country. Okay, moderators, i think i tiptoed pretty carefully here. If you don't think I have, no offense in taking this down. I just wanted to share that I am amazed how the markets have done since the early year crash on the COVID fear.

 

[Sprung]

A long, but good, day today. After getting my wife and sons out the door to school, I and a friend got in my wife's van and drove about 700 miles today. It was nice to have someone riding along with me, otherwise I'd have had to break it up into most of the trip today, stop somewhere for the night, and finish the trip in the morning. Instead I was gone for just over 15 hours.

Purpose of the trip was to pick up the trailer we ordered a couple months ago. This trailer was a big purchase for us - and these trailers aren't cheap - but it will meet our needs very well. While it will primarily be used to transport camping gear (so we don't have to take two vehicles to get all our gear there) and keep it dry while doing so, the top does come off and it can be used as a small utility trailer as well.

Just a ton of great features and ability to custom order this trailer with options that we would use really appealed to us. This is a well thought out, well built trailer, made in the USA, and my initial thoughts are that it was worth the cost. I considered buying a small utility trailer and building it into my own weather tight trailer for hauling gear, but all said and done I estimated that even that would've still cost close to 2/3 of what we spent on this, plus all the time to build it out. (And I already have way too many projects on my list to be adding another one.)

We'll be heading out in the near future for another camping trip for the year, so it'll get its inaugural camping trip soon.

 

[woodtickgreg]

That is going to be a useful little tool right there.

 

[Sprung]

It definitely will be! And my wife is happy that we'll be all in one vehicle again when we go camping and that I now have other means to transport lumber, plywood, machines, etc. than just in the back of her van.

 

[Wildthings]

I bet that top could be used as a soaking pool also!!

 

[Sprung]

The idea was already floated to try and use it as a small boat!

 

[Tom Smart]

A great day for catching up on outside chores. Finally, it’s not 100 degrees or raining. And it’s even better when your wife volunteers to help when filling the cracks in the driveway with that sandy, tarry goop. You just need to be prepared for the gasps, comments and criticism you get when you do something every guy does unconsciously, like wipe your hands or a tool on your pant leg. DAMHIK.

Off to the laundry and a shower.

 

[woodtickgreg]

Yup, very nice Temps here too! Mid 70s and mostly cloudy. So working on the patio project.
Prepping for the forms.

Forms are in.

This is where the dirt is going, its a very low corner in my yard. It used to be all white rocks there, I back filled the sewer dig hole with all the white rocks. Now I'm backfilling this hole with dirt. Win win.

Making progress........

 

[woodtickgreg]

Made it a little more that half way today. I hope to finish the rest of the dig out tomorrow if my back will let me.



Eventually I'm going to have to replace the gutter and move the downspout to the end.

 

[Gdurfey]

Worked on the wiring at our property. Don’t you hate when unscrupulous folks return bad parts? I bought a 50 amp breaker from Lowe’s that didn’t look right but it was the only one they had. Sure enough, after walking back and forth what felt a billion times, one leg of the breaker was bad. Luckily the small Ace hardware had the correct style, correct amperage, and the RV trailer has power. Not complete pictu but a couple. Best thing was a good friend came up to help that I have not spent a lot of time with due to COVID. Great to be with them and have the help.

wire for water pump came in today so will try to get that knocked out in the morning and then do a partial winterization due to pending cold front.

 

[woodtickgreg]

Day 2 of shoveling dirt. As soon as I get the tamper out betty takes it and goes to town lol. Leveling out the dirt and tamping it down in preparation for the crushed concrete base.

Leveled and tamped down.

This is called 21A crushed concrete.

Spreading the 21A base. Betty is a trooper, I call her a worker bee, lol.

Screeding and tamping as we go.

And its ready for the co crete pour now. Ill let it sit for a couple of weeks, let it get rained on and settle some more and then tamp it down again before the pour. Besides I need to save a little more money for the concrete, I'm having it buggied in this time so I have more time to finish the concrete. I'm learning as I go here, last time on the small pour it started to set up as I was finishing it.

2 days of shoveling and this old man is done, my back is very fatigued. But at least its done and after the pour I can move on to other things. I have wanted to put a patio in this house since I moved in here, its going to be very nice. Its in the shade in the afternoon.

 

[Nubsnstubs]

Leveled and tamped down.

This is called 21A crushed concrete.

Spreading the 21A base. Betty is a trooper, I call her a worker bee, lol.

Screeding and tamping as we go.

And its ready for the co crete pour now. Ill let it sit for a couple of weeks, let it get rained on and settle some more and then tamp it down again before the pour. Besides I need to save a little more money for the concrete, I'm having it buggied in this time so I have more time to finish the concrete. I'm learning as I go here, last time on the small pour it started to set up as I was finishing it.
View attachment 193160
2 days of shoveling and this old man is done, my back is very fatigued. But at least its done and after the pour I can move on to other things. I have wanted to put a patio in this house since I moved in here, its going to be very nice. Its in the shade in the afternoon.

That's a beautiful gloss finish you did in that last picture lower right side. Excellent trowel control. You can see the skyline in it. Too bad the other side doesn't look as good.

It's good that Betty helps you. Even before Deb got dementia, she refused to do anything woodworking because, "It's not what I do". Now, nothing. It's too bad because she kept the house almost spotless.... ...... Jerry (in Tucson)

 

[woodtickgreg]

It's good that Betty helps you. Even before Deb got dementia, she refused to do anything woodworking because, "It's not what I do". Now, nothing. It's too bad because she kept the house almost spotless.... ...... Jerry (in Tucson)

My Betty is amazing, she never stops and makes our house a home. She keeps the house clean in so many ways, makes the outside of the house beautiful with all her flowers, and is just my partner in this life. We do almost everything together. She is crafty like me but in different mediums, she sews, makes jewelry, and is starting to get into leather work. She is by my side always, we walk through life together.

 

[Nubsnstubs]

In the leather working she's getting into, is it going to be where she will need a stitching horse, or are you going to use a machine for that? ....... Jerry (in Tucson)

 

[woodtickgreg]

In the leather working she's getting into, is it going to be where she will need a stitching horse, or are you going to use a machine for that? ....... Jerry (in Tucson)

Actually she has a few machines, cobra leather machine.

And a foot treadle singer leather coblers machine.



I have 2 of these singer model 201-2 machines. They where called the rolls royce of singers because the rolls royce factory used them to sew the leather interiors of their cars.
The cabinet needs to be refinished, it's on my never ending to do list.


Just scored this one.

So she is not lacking for sewing machines for leather. Lol. She can sew the finest leather up to 7/8" on the cobra.
And she does have a stitching horse too! Lol.

 

[Eric Rorabaugh]

Betty is thinking of beating you in the head like that. Taking frustration out on the stone instead of you.

 

[Gdurfey]

More success at the home away from home. I now have the water well wired and a couple of circuits in the shed That includes a light. Now we need to finish the septic system........decision time on the money. Are we going to piece meal the house and such or try to do it all at once. Will have to rob retirement funds either way.......ugh.

I think I mentioned that a lot of the septic system is dug, but new rugs require soils test and we require an engineered system. We did get stamped plans with the purchase so we just have to get it finished. Then we can stay in the trailer except........

looks to be about a 50 degree drop in temperature in about 30 hours. From extreme heat to first hard freeze so I worked on winterizing the trailer today. What a bummer......think I got everything where it will at least survive, I pray. Record highs today in the Springs; 95 or so.

then home to try to move the wheel on my John Deere G in so I can pull it a bit further up on my trailer. Weight was just a bit too far back. When I uncoupled Friday, I nearly put the tongue through my tailgate. I goofed, my own fault, but sti, the wheels need to be in just a bit so I can pull it forward and do it right. Just have to reattach rim to hub in the morning.....